REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Expert Team of Crude Oil Price (COP) of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), Maizar Rahman, said Indonesia could obtain a number of benefits after rejoining OPEC.

"What is needed now is to make the best use of OPEC benefits for Indonesia and also maximize the role of Indonesia in OPEC forum," he told Republika.co.id, Sunday (6/12).

He described the one of benefits is securing sources of crude oil imports to Indonesia. Indonesia has entered one of major importers of oil, both crude oil and fuel oil. Oil is still the main need of national energy for more than 50 percent.

Read: Indonesian crude oil price drops

However, he cautioned Indonesia should immediately initiate significant energy diversification. If it was not, the governor of OPEC from 2004 to 2009 predicted in 2030s Indonesia will import around three million barrels per day. Nowadays, Indonesia imported crude oil and fuel oil in almost a million barrels per day.

Indonesian membership in OPEC was one way to maintain national energy security. Almost all countries in East Asia, such as China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and ASEAN countries, except Malaysia, were also importers of oil, and the biggest source of oil supply was from OPEC countries in the Middle East.

"More than 75 percent of OPEC oil production in the Middle East was exported to East Asia" he added.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika